Our Blog
The Mashpi Amagusa Reserve Saved By Donations
The Basantes family now owns 62-hectares of their precious Mashpi Amagusa Reserve thanks to kind donors.
Does a Casual Birder Need a Spotting Scope?
Does a casual birder needs a spotting scope? Ask AI and the answer is no, scopes are heavy and expensive. Scott thinks a little differently. In the right conditions, a spotting scope like the Maven CS.1.A. can make the difference between simply spotting a bird and...
The Mashpi Amagusa Reserve Saved By Donations
The Basantes family now owns 62-hectares of their precious Mashpi Amagusa Reserve thanks to kind donors.
Does a Casual Birder Need a Spotting Scope?
Does a casual birder needs a spotting scope? Ask AI and the answer is no, scopes are heavy and expensive. Scott thinks a little differently. In the right conditions, a spotting scope like the Maven CS.1.A. can make the difference between simply spotting a bird and...
Dancing Like the Chuquiaj in Cuemal, Peru
A day in Cuemal, Peru: joining a rain dance named for a small bird, visiting the spring where the ritual was born, and eating a seven-potaje feast grown steps away.
Why Is It So Hard to Find a Rain Jacket With Real Coverage?
Looking for a rain jacket that goes below your waist? Scott writes about three excellent options in this article; the Skybird and Stormbird by Finisterre and the Halkon by Paramo. Any of these jackets would be an excellent choice for men or women taking part in a wide...
Raft or Hike? Choosing My Adventure on the Rogue River
"Get on the raft." I was sitting in the sand at the edge of the Rogue River, a few feet from the raft I'd been riding downstream. My husband Scott and I were about to hike up to the Rogue River Ranch, a historic pioneer farm, and then on to Inspiration Point —...
A Beginner’s Guide to the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival
Although Montana proudly claims the title of “Big Sky Country,” southeastern Oregon makes a compelling argument for the nickname too. In spring, the landscape around Malheur National Wildlife Refuge stretches wide beneath dramatic skies, storm clouds hanging low over...
GORUCK X-Pac Review: Better for Travel Than Cordura?
In this review, Scott Drake puts GORUCK's X-PAC GR2 and X-PAC GR3 backpacks to the test, comparing X-PAC fabric against traditional Cordura for water resistance, travel performance, and everyday use. If you're looking for the best waterproof travel backpack for...
Tierra Viva Expo Fair in Nayón
Tierra Viva Expo by Aymé Quijia With support from: David Quijia, Darío Quijia, Mayra Andrango, Maribel Quijia, Santiago Juiña In coordination with: the GAD Parroquial de NayónThe Tierra Viva Expo Fair is a gathering of producers, artisans, and knowledge keepers...
Spring Wildflowers on Our Favorite Forest Park Loop
We enjoy living in St. Johns partly for easy access to parks and quiet spaces. One of our favorite places is Forest Park, especially the trailheads along Germantown Road. Scott and I hike there often, whether we need a longer walk, a training hike, or simply a reset....
Do You Need to Buy a SIM Card When Traveling? What We Do Instead
If you’re planning an international trip, you’ve probably asked yourself: Do I need to buy a SIM card when I land? For years, that was the default advice. Find a kiosk at the airport, swap out your SIM, and hope everything works. But that’s not what we do anymore....